Refrigerating apparatus



oct. 27, 1931. J. G. K1N@ 1,829,411

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Nov. SO, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l aww/nto@ Get. 27, 1931. J. G. KING REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed NOV. 30. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 27, 1931 STATES PATENT FFlCE d' ESSE G. KING, 0F DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO FRIGIDMRE CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE REFRIGERAT'ING APPARATUS Application led November 30, 1927. Serial No. 236,721.

rlhis invention relates to improvements in refrigerating apparatus and more particularly the refrigerating elements used in connection with the production of cold in mechanically refrigerated cabinets.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a relatively long compact andy-narrow evaporator of the Hooded type which, although utilizing only a small quantity of refrigerant, provides a\relativel long horizontally disposed and large heat a sorbing section. In carrying out this object l provide an elongated finned section forming the greater part of the length of the evaporator and the greater part of th metallic heat absorbing surface of the eya orator and ll cool this long large finned section by long slender and horizontally disposed refrigerant conveying tubes.

rFhe invention also contemplated providing a refrigerating means which is constructed and arranged to compensate for such heat losses which are greater in some parts of the cabinet than in other parts and particularly those occurring through the end walls ofthe cabinet.

It is another object or" the invention to rovide an improved compact, narrow and ong refrigerating unit or element which may be mounted in display counters or the like such as those used in stores and which will not obstruct vision when positioned therein. y

A further object or' the invention is to provide an improved rerigerating means which in combination with the structure of the display counter will secure efcient circulation of the cooling air within said display counter.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from. the following description, reference being had to 'the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

ln the drawings Fig. l shows a side View of the improved refrigerating element of the invention; p

Fig. 2 illustrates a top view of the same with the header and ducts shown in broken separated relation;

Fig. 3 is a side View similar to Fig. l bu showing details of the ducts and iins.

Fig. 4C represents an end view of the element looking longitudinally toward the header.

Fig. 5 is a side sectional view of a display case refri erator equipped with the improved re rigerating element of the invention, and

Fig. 6 is an end sectional view of Fig. 5.

Referring in detail to the drawings the refrigerating element comprises a header l0 y shown complete in Fig. l but in cut style in Fi s. 2 and 3 which serves as a container for hoFding a refrigerating medium which may for example be liquid sulphur dioxide. This header serves to distribute the refrigerant to pipes or ducts hereinafter described.v rlhe refrigerating medium is led into the header by a pipe il and is conducted away therefrom above the liquid level in the header by a pipe l2. A suitable iioat valve i3 shown diagrammatically in Fig. l is used e to control the flow of refrigerant to the header and adapted 'to maintain a constant level of liquid in the header.

i series of heat transfer means herein shown as refrigerant circulating ducts or tubes which are formed of a plurality oi: loops of pipe, are connected to the header in parallel circuit relation as shown in the drawings, Figs. 2 and 3. 'lhese loops er;-

tend outwardly into the air cooled by the rele frigerating element. The loops are constructed substantially as follows:

Et will be observed in Fig. 2 that each loop extends longitudinally for a relatively short portion lll outwardly from the longitudinal axis end oiE the header l0 whereas it is bent outwardly at the portion 15 and thereafter continues as a duct or tube 16 extending in the same longitudinal direction as the body of the header, the portion 16 being odset with respectto the portion 14C. The duct at its extremity remote from the header wall is looped around as at 17 and returns to the header wall as a straight duct which is not visiblein the drawing of Fig. 2, since it lies beneath a similar pipe or duct 18 belonging to another loop or duct 19 whose oifset porton is not visible since it is in the same plane as the ducts 14, 15, 16. Similarly a duct 20 extends outwardly from the body of the header and in the same longitudinal direction thereof and whose bent portion 21 terminates in a duct attached to the same Wall of the header but bent and laterally offset in a manner analogous to the ducts 14, 15, 16 above mentioned. This return leg is not visible in Fig. 2 but .is indicated by numerals 9, 8, 7 (see Fig. 3). Above the portions 7, 8, 9, there is attached to the header a portion comprising portions 22, 23, 24, bent and laterally offset as hereinbefore described, and whose straight portion 24 bends around at 25 to terminate in a duct similar to duct 20 of the other loop system but lying` below the same.

A particular feature of theinvention resides not only in bending and laterally oil'- setting the ducts as they leave the header but in criss-crossing the bent return portions 17,

419 and 25 of the respective loop ducts. This cross arrangement is more clearlv seen in Fig. 4 in which 10 indicates the outline of the end of the header. 14 shows the portion of the duct loop which is connected with the header. 15 is the bent portion: 16 the 1ongitudinally extending portion odset with respect to 14, and 17 is the bent-over extremity which enters the header at 26 after bending up as shown in Fig. 4, this point not being visible in Fig. 2.

In a similar manner the duct` comprising portions 22. 23. 24, leads out at 22 from' 'the header wall thereafter to bend at a point 23, to continue as portion 24 and to terminate after leaving the bent loop 25 and inclined upwardlv as at 6 in Fig. 4 to continue as a straight tube or duct located below the duct 20 in Fig. 2. The duct 20 leaves the header in a somewhat similar manner except that it continues relatively straight until it is bent around at v21l and returns as portions 9, 8. 7 located below duct portions24. 23. 22 in Fig. 2. but not visible therein. A similar arrangement prevails with respect to duct 18 which leaves the header wall in longitudinally extending direction bending around at portion 19 to terminate in portions 5, 4, 3 similar to and lying below 14, 15,' 16 above described.

It will be observed that the round or 'bentover portions 19 and 25 cross respectively the portions 21, and 17 (Fig. 4) these being thev bent-over extremities of the duct loops.

The hereinbefore referred to criss-cross arrangement of the extremities of the ducts obviates the necessity of making sharp bends or loops. It is apparent that ducts of the size used on elements of this type cannot be bent backward upon themselves without using a gradual loop.

' throu This criss-cross arrangement also makes it possible to provide a long narrow and shallow refrigerating element whose duct system is conlined within the transverse area of the end walls of the header, and which makes the element suitable for use in long confined spaces while still providing a large number of ducts or radiating surfaces.

It should be observed thatthe system of ducts longitudinally extending from the end of the header slants longitudinally downwardly with respect to the body of the header as shown for example in Fig. 1. This teature is also shown in Fig. 3 by the dotted lines of the ducts, the great length of the ducts with res ect to the ins precluding the possibility o illustrating a connecte view. If the ducts were connected to the end wall of the header so as to constitute a perfectly horizontal continuation or prolongation thereof, there is danger that refrigerant may become trapped in the looped end if the duct is tilted upwardly when the element is installed so. as to bring the extremity1 above the liquid level in the header. By virtue of the present invention, however, even though the element is not placed in a perfectly horizontal position the ducts will possess sutiicient tilt of their own to obviate such a contingency. Moreover, inclining the ducts provides for the natural upward iiow of the gaseous refrigerant-and facilitates the return of bubbles to the header.

The duct loops are providedwith fins of good heat conducting material such as copper andf'these fins may consist for example of copper sheets 29 attached to the long horil zontal runs of the loops in good thermal contact as by soldering. Tie bars 30 may be attached to the ins at intervals to produce a solid structure and to prevent damage to the fins and ducts.

By this arrangement a lon finned sectir'fz "rovides the main eat absorbing surface o the evaporator and the long horizontal runs or tubes, although they contain only a small quantity of refrigerant provide the major heat transfer section oi the evaporator which is in contact with the refrigerant. Thus I have provided along horizontal evaporator of t e Hooded type which utilizes only a small quantity of refrigerant and insures eilicient refrigeration ghout the length of the evaporator. This long horizontal or s ike-like evaporator is particularl adaptab e for cooling long horizontal re rigerating compartments suc asdisplay cases of the type shown herein.

As previously explained the outer-lying ducts are laterally oiset. This enables the .ns to be spaced at such a distance that the horizontal v frigerating element mounted in a refrigerator 'of the display case type. In such capacity its function' is to replace the vice or the brine coils heretofore used for cooling and circulating the air within the case.

In the display case illustrated the case itself comprises an elongated structure adapted for cooling food stuffs while maintaining the same on display. The case comprises essentially a cabinet which may for example have a rectangular ground plan with a base 31 and a horizontal top 32. The walls of the case should be suitably heat insulated as by means of cork board 32. The case may be divided into an upper display compartment or chamber 33 and a lower, machine or storage compartment 34. The front wall which faces the customers is provided with glass panels preferably of the multiple air space insulated type indicated by 35, while a similar construction may be provided at the rear with glass panelled doors 36 to admit access to the interior of the case and to permit inspection of such interior without necessitating opening of the doors. An impervious lining 37 may be provided in the interior of the case. rIhe improved refrigerating elements hereinafter described are disposed in the interior of the cooling compartment or display compartment of the case in the manner shown in Figs. 5 and 6. In the preferred embodiment of the invention a plurality of such units are used preferably with the header members l0 disposed near the end walls 38 of the display counter and with the refrigerant circulating ducts and fins 29 extending longitudinally toward each other so as to meet substantially in the top center of the display case. This arrangement insures substantially even temperature throughout the chilling compartment. In as much as the headers constitute the coldest portions of the refrigerating means, the headers are placed adjacent the end walls of the chilling chamber where, in the particular embodiment, the heat lealtage is somewhat greater at these points than others and thereby substantiallycompensates for such heatleakage to maintain even temperature throughout the chilling chamber.

The refrigerating elements may be supported from the top of the display case by means of strap members 39 attached to the header l0 and to the lins 29. A drip pan 40 may be provided for each refrigerating element used so as to avoid dripping of moisture on the displayed food studs when the refrigerating element is being defrosted. Suitable refrigerant pipes 41 and 42 lead respectively to the header inlet and outlet l1 and l2 and these pipes are connected to a suitable type of refrigerating apparatus not shown but which may be located either in the machine compartment 34 of the case or.

elsewhere.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

l. In a refrigerating display counter in combination an elongated food compartment, refrigerating means disposed in said compartment, said means comprising spaced headermeans adapted to contain a quantity of liquid refrigerant means, a plurality of ducts extending longitudinally of the cabinet and connected with said header means for circulating refrigerant medium throughout substantially the length of the cabinet, said ducts being disposed intermediate said header means.

2. In a refrigerated display counter in oombination an elongated food compartment, refrigerating means in said compartment comprising an elongated header at each end of said compartment and adapted to contain a quantity of liquid refrigerant, refrigerant circulating ducts connected with the headers for receiving liquid refrigerant therefrom and longitudinally extending away from said headers and towards the center of said compartment, and fins on said ducts.

3. Refrigerating means fo'rmechanically refrigerated cabinets comprising `a header adapted to contain a quantity .of volatile liquid refrigerant and a plurality of duct loops having the ends thereof connected with an end wall of said header and below the liquid level therein, and means within the header for maintaining a predetermined quantity of liquid refrigerant therein.

l. Refrigerating means for elongated inechanically refrigerated cabinets comprising header means, duct loops extending therefrom, each duct comprising a pipe loop, pipe loop emerging from an end wailoi the header, extending 'therefrom for a short distance, then being offset outwardly and centinuing in the same longitudinal direction for a substantial distance, being bent around at its extremity and returning in a similar manner to a lower point on the same end wall of said header to form a circulatory duc-t loop, the bent-over entremitiesf the ducts being arranged to cross each other.

Befrigerating means for elongated mechanically refrigerated cabinets comprising a header adapted to contain a quantity of liquid refrigerant, conduit means extending ,from the header for cooling a space disposed horizontally of the header, said conduit means including a duct portion connected with the header below the normal liquid refrigerant level in the header and sloping downwardly through a substantial portion ot its length, another portion connected with the header and disposed substantially parallel with thellfirst portion but on a higher plane,

and afoop connecting the portions.

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6., Refrigerating means for elongated mechanically refrigerated cabinets comprising a header adapted to contain a quantity of liq- .uid refrigerant, conduit means extending from the header for cooling a space disposed horizontally of the header, said conduit.

means including a duct portion connected with lthe header below the normal liquid refrigerant/level in the header and sloping downwardly through a substantial portion of its length, another portion connected with the header and disposed substantially parallel with the first portion but on a higher plane, and in a different vertical plane, and-a loop connecting. the portions.

7. A horizontally elongated spike-like evaporator disposed in the path of air for directly cooling the air, comprising a finned section forming the greater part of the horizontal length of the evaporator and the greater part of the metallic heat absorbing portion of the evaporator, said finned section including a compact group of long slender and horizontally disposed refrigerant conveying tubes forming the major heat transfer section of the evaporator contacting with the refrigerant, some of said tubes being arranged on a higher plane than others, said finned section also. including a plurality of vertically extending fins each of said fins l being intimately connected with a lower and nature.

an upper tube. and a header containing a quantity of volatile liquid refrigerant, said '3'5 upper and lower tubes being each connected with a vertically extending wall of the header in fluid exchange relationship with the interior of said header.

In testimony whereof I hereto aiii-x my sig- JEssE G. KING. 

